Gurugram, October 11: Considering Navaratri as an auspicious festival, Shiv Sena and other right-wing outfits have claimed to forcibly close around 400 meats and chicken shops at different locations in Haryana's Gurugram area. After the shops were forcibly shut down, Deputy Commissioner of Gurugram, Sumit Kuhar said, strict action will be taken against the people who will try to forcibly shut down the shops.

Gautam Saini, chief of Shiv Sena's Gurgaon unit told news agency PTI that around 300 members from different Hindu outfits assembled at Lord Shiva temple at Old Railway road and headed to different locations to close meat and chicken shops.

According to the locals, Shiv Sena and other outfits have forcibly shut down chicken, meat shops in Ashok Vihar, Sector 5 and 9, Surat Nagar, Pataudi Chowk, Sadar Bazaar, Jacobpura, Khandsa Anaj Mandi, Bus Stand, Sohna, DLF area and Sector 14. They added that around 50 percent of shops are closed amid fears of clashes, which happens every year since BJP came to power in 2014.

Sanjay Thakral, Shiv Sena's Gurgaon in-charge said, "We have requested and served notices to every meat selling outlet to shut shop during Navratri. This time we have not served notices to restaurants, like KFC and other chains, as them serving chicken cannot be seen in the open," reported PTI.

Asked if the meat shops were forcibly shut, DCP (crime) Sumit Kuhar said, "We are looking into the matter. No one is authorised to take law in their hands. We will not let anyone forcibly close down meat shops during Navratri. If anyone wants to voluntarily close his shop, then it is up to them. We have directed all city SHOs to keep a watch on the situation."